Cambridge confers doctorate on PM

Cambridge, October 11 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was today the toast of the Cambridge University, which conferred an honorary doctorate on its famous alumnus nearly half-a-century after he charmed his teachers with his academic brilliance.

Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, who is the Chancellor of the University presented the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law on Dr Singh and eulogised him for his scholarship and many achievements in the face of personal adversity.

''It is very rare indeed for the position of Prime Minister to be entrusted to one who is not a propfessional politician. Dr Singh is a scholar and public servant of great distinction,'' Prince Philip said at the convocation ceremony held at the Senate Hall of the University.

''He grew up in times so perilous that for a long while when India and Pakistan were breaking apart, his father went missing and he himself could not know his examination results,'' he said.

Praising Dr Singh's perseverance, the Chancellor said the young boy from Punjab not only landed in the Cambridge but also received the only First of his year and also won the Adam Smith Prize at the University.

''One of his teachers says of him that he was the best student he ever had,'' Prince Philip recalled.

Last year, Dr Singh had received a similar honour, an honorary doctorate in Civil Law, from the Oxford University.

The one-hour convocation ceremony was attended by Cambridge dons and students, who gave a standing ovation to Dr Singh after his 15-minute acceptance speech.

Performances by the King's Trumpeteers, the Cambridge Graduate Chamber Ensemble and the choir of the St. John's College (where Dr Singh studied economics), enlivened the proceedings at the Senate Hall.

Dr Singh said his teachers and peers at the Cambridge taught him to be open to argument and be fearless and lucid in expressions of one's opinion.

''These virtues and the relentless desire to pursue intellectual truth were inculcated in me at Cambridge. In many important ways, the University of Cambridge made me,'' he said.

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